Gripper mechanism



F. E. RICH.

- GRIPPER MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILEDIAPR-Zfi. 1919.

1,384,778. Patented July 19, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. RICH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR. TO MIEHLE PRINTING PRESS AND MFG. 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A' CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

'GRIPIPER MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1921.

Application filed April 26, 1919. Serial No. 292,904.

the grippers accurately in adjusted position;

If good results are to be had, grippers must be accurately and nicely adjusted and positively maintained in adjusted position, es-.

peeially when such grippers are arranged in a relatively long row forgripping a single sheet of paper or other material.

Accordingly, one object of my invention is to .facilitate the adjusting of grippers and maintaining same in adjusted position.

Another object is to provide easily detachable and adjustable grippers adapted to meet all of the requirements under service conditions.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the gripper mechanism shownon the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which- Figurel is a side elevation, the rocker shaft being in section, of my improved gripper mechanism; w

, Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan View of the m Fig. 3 is anenlarged sectionalview showing the means for adjusting the grippers. and maintaining the same in adjusted posi-' tion; and

Fig. 4c is a sectional view showing the preferred embodiment of my invention.

The most common practice is to have grippers mounted upon a circular shaft by clamp means andset screws which do not under all conditions hold the grippers firmly in adjusted position. As a result thereof, the shaft soon becomes grooved and otherwise marked, making it practically impossible to maintain the grippers in adjusted position, even for a short time. In my gripper mechanism, not only are the grippers readily detachable, but it is practically impossible for the grippers to shift accidentally when once set in adjusted or operative position. By means of this gripper mechanism also a fine adjustment may be made and the grippers maintained in such adusted position.

Referrlng to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings it will be noted that I have shown a gripper mechanism used in connection with a cylinder 10, said gripper mechanism including a shaft 11, capable of the usual rocking motion for opening and closing the grippers proper. This shaft 11 along its length is provided with a projection 12 by cuttlng associated longitudinally extending V-shaped grooves 13 and 14- in said shaft, the sides of the groove preferably being at an angle of 90 with respect to each other.

.The sides 15 and 16 of the projection 12 are straight, while the top 17 of the projection preferably is in the are of a circle. the radius of which is the same as that of the shaft 11. The grippers 18 (only one of which is here shown), which are secured to the shaft, are provided with transverse grooves 19. The bottom 2O of the groove 19 in each case preferably is straight and bears upon the curved surface 17 of the projection 12, whereby the gripper 18 may rock upon the projection when being adjusted.

The sides 21 and 22 of the gripper groove 19 preferably are straight and are at a greater angle than 90 with respect to the bottom 20 of the groove to permit a rocking action of the gripper on the projection 12. At the same time, the corners 23 and 24 always engage with sides 21 and '22 respectively of the groove 19 to assist in holding the gripper 18 in adjusted position. The projection 12 is held in the groove 19 and the gripper 18 in each case secured to the shaft 11, preferably by a Ushaped clamp 25, the intermediate portion of which em braces the shaft 11 and the ends of which pass through apertures. 26 and 27 in the gripper 18, the ends of said clamp being threaded for receiving nuts 28 and 29 respectively.

Asshown in Fig. l, and as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, the gripper 18 is in its cen tral position with respect to the shaft projection 12, the corners 23 and 24 of the projection 12 engaging the sides 21 and 22 re spectively of the groove 19, the nuts 28 and 29 being tightened for maintaining the gripper in adjusted position. As shown in dotted lines inFig. 3, the gripper 18 has 22 of the groove 19. In this way the active the groove 19.

gripping end of the gripper which engages the paper, or other material, may be adjusted with great precision and maintained in such adjusted position. At'the same time, the gripper 18 cannot shift bodily around the shaft because of the cooperation between the shaft projection 12 and The grippers are readily detachable from the shaft 11 by merely withdrawing the nuts-28 and 29. I

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in Fig. 4. In this arrange ment the shaft 30 is provided witha'longitudinally extending V-shaped groove 31,; which receives a depending projection 32 on the gripper The converging sides of the projection 32 are at a smaller angle with re-. spect to each other than the sides of the V-shaped groove 31, so that the projection 32 may be rocked within the groove 31 to permit adjustment of the gripper 33 on the shaft 30. The outer end of the projection 32 is rounded to prevent any binding action, but at the same time portions of the projection engage the sides of the V-shaped groove in a positive manner for positive holding purposes. As in the other arrangement, a U-s'haped clamp 34 embracing the shaft 30 secures the gripper to the shaft in adjusted positionby nuts 35 and 36 engaging thethreaded ends of said clamp.

It is my intention to cover all modifications of the invention, falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I'claimz I tion of a support'having a groove, and a gripper having a projection cooperating with said groove in a mannerwhereby the gripper is rockably' ad justably mounted on said support. I g

2. In gripper mechanism, the combination of a support havinga, groove, agripper having a projection cooperating with said groove in a manner whereby the gripper is rockably adjustably mounted on said support, and means for maintaining said gripper in adjusted position.

4:. In gripper mechanism, the combination of a support, a gripper, said support and gripper having a tongue and groove *connection in which the tongue eg gages a wall of the groove and is arranged in a manner whereby the ripper may be rockably adjusted upon said support, and means for securing the gripper in adjusted position. I g

' 5. In gripper mechanism, a rockable support having a groove, and a gripper having a projection extending into said groove and having a portion engageable with a wall of said groove in a manner whereby the gripper may be rocked'on said support for adjustment purposes.

6. In gripper mechanism, a rockable support having a groove, a gripper having a projection extending into said groove and having a portion engageable with a wall of said groove in a manner whereby the gripper may be rocked on said support for adjustment purposes, and means for securing the gripper in ad usted position.

In gripper mechanism, tion of a shaft having a groove with stra ght sides, a gripper having a projection extend-Q the combina-' ing into said groove, portions of said projection at all times engaging the sides of said groove, the gripper being adjustable on said shaft, and means for holding said grips per in adjusted position; r

1 V J movably secured to said support, said grip- '1. In gripper mechanism, the combinaper and support having a tongue and "groove,

connection in which thetongue engages a wall of the groove and is arranged in a i manner whereby one may be rockably ad FRANK E. men; w 

